The WSU Shuttle System will add a second route to service campus residents next month. By student request, the new “Housing Route” line will begin making stops at Fairmount Towers, Wheatshocker Apartments and Devlin Hall next semester. As long as the line is used, the route will be a permanent change to the shuttle system.

The Housing Route will begin Jan. 13, and run its circuit from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays while school is in session. After winter break, the Metropolitan Complex Route will begin running its route on Jan. 3 in order to provide transportation to staff who rely on the buses.

Ellen Abbey, auxiliary services manager at WSU, said the requests she’s received for shuttle stops by resident halls have been increasing as temperatures have dropped.

“My fingers were frozen coming back from class today,” Freshman Terra Rosenberger said. She had trekked from class to Fairmount Towers Wednesday, with a high temperature of 33 degrees.

Rosenberger said she would consider taking the shuttle to campus next semester. The shuttle will also benefit Wheatshocker residents who have meal plans at Fairmount Towers.

“We’re hoping that this will help on both ends,” Abbey said. “We’re hoping this is even more popular than the other (the Metropolitan Complex route).”

The Housing Route will make the same campus stops as the Metropolitan Route, with the exception of Hubbard Hall. Instead, the new line will stop by Devlin Hall. At mid semester, both routes will make a new stop along Perimeter Road near Duerksen Fine Arts Center for parking lots along Hillside.

To differentiate between the two routes, a sign will be placed in the window of each bus. Using a different vinyl design for each line was considered, but this could create confusion when buses needing maintenance are swapped out for an alternative.

Junior Emily Brown usually parks at the Metropolitan Complex, takes the bus to campus, and back to her car so she can drive to her job at Fairmount Commons. She said the shuttle buses have saved her time.

“I tried to drive to campus the first few weeks, and it was horrible,” Brown said. “You had to walk 15 minutes to get to the building you wanted to go to.”

The shuttle system is run by Overland Charters, which is under a three-year contract.  There were previously four buses in operation and two on reserve. There will now be five in operation and only one on reserve. Overland Charters will also need to hire more drivers to service the route.

Riders can give feedback on the official WSU parking website at wichita.edu/parking.